Hydraulic rotary engine.



W. F. ANDREWS. HYDRAULIC ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED 00126, 1912.

023 Patented Aug. 4, 1914 2 SHEETSBHEBT 1.

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W. F. ANDREWS. HYDRAULIC ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION TILED OUT. 26, 1012.

Patented Aug. 4, 191 1 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PH0TO LITHOH WASHINGTON. Dv l,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. ANDREWS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO GEORGE ROPER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HYDRAULIC ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Application filed October 26, 1912. Serial No. 727,881.

This invention relates more particularly to a class of rotary engines adapted to be operated by water supplied thereto under pressure, and is an improvement upon the form of hydraulic rotary engine disclosed in my application, serially numbered 635,- 786, filed June 28, 1911.

My invention has for its object primarily to provide a hydraulic rotary engine, or water-motor designed to be employed for operating machinery of various kinds, dynamo, etc., and efficiency of power may be obtained from a minimum consumption of the motive agent; and to provide a form of rotary engine which may be operated at a desired speed under varying loads resulting from the ma chine driven thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of regulator which is controlled by a governor operated simultaneously with the operation of the engine, and which is adapted to be adjusted so as to effectually regulate the speed of the engine to meet the requirements of the machines driven by it.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and compact form of hydraulic rotary engine which may be made very durable, which will afford a maximum of surface for receiving the pressure of the motive agent, and which may be constructed so that its working parts will operate with comparatively no frictional resistance.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, the said. invention being more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front-view of my improved hydraulic rotary engine, parts thereof being shown in cross-section. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the engine, a part by the use of which a high thereof being broken away and shown in cross-section. Fig. 3 is a side-view of the engine, part of which is in cross-section. Fig. t is a View, partly in section and partly broken away, of a form of the regulator employed in the engine, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the valves employed in the engine.

My hydraulic rotary engine 1.0 has a vertically disposed casing 11 composed of a front-plate, or wall 12 and a rear-plate, or wall 13, each of which have substantially pear-shaped edges. The front and rear walls 12 and 13 are spaced apart at a suitable distance, and the openings thus formed between the edges thereof are closed by sideplates, or walls 14 and 15. The opening of the top of the casing 1.1 is closed by a substantially inverted cup-shaped or coneshaped cap, or head 16 in the top of which is provided an inlet, not shown, which may be connected to a source of water supply by which the engine is operated. The casing 11 and the cap 16 is supported upon a substantially rectangular base 17 having a passage 18 therethrough. One end of the passage 18 communicates with the interior of the casing 11 and its opposite end provides an outlet 19 for the engine substantially centrally through the bottom of the base 17.

In the enlarged part of each of the front and rear walls 12 and 13 of the casing 11 are bearings 20, 21, and 22, 23. In the bearings 20 and 21 is journaled a shaft 24. and in the bearings 22 and 23 is journaled a drive shaft 25. Upon each of the shafts 24; and 25 is held a rotatable drive wheel, as 26 and 27, which are of sufficient length to closely fit between the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls 12 and 13, or fit in recesses, as illustrated, at 28 and 29, which may be provided in said walls. Each of the wheels 26 and 27 is identical in form, and has a plurality of radially disposed arms, or blades, as 30 and 31. I prefer to employ forms of drive wheels wherein each has six of the arms, or blades 30 and 31, and all of said arms are of a length so that when the wheels revolve the arms will intersect, as shown in Fig. 1, in a manner whereby the edge of the free end of each arm will form a watertight engagement with the hub of the opposed wheel as well as also forming a watertight engagement with the interior surfaces of the side walls 14 and 15 of the casing 11. By this formation it is clear that the drive wheels 26 and 27 afford a bearing surface adapted to receive the full force of pressure from the water supplied to the casing 11, and to impart to the drive shaft 25 the power produced by the rotation of the drive wheels 26 and 27, upon the shafts 24 extending exteriorly beyond the rear wall 13 of said casing is a gear wheel 32 and said gear wheel is in mesh with a gear wheel 33 provided upon the drive shaft 25.

Interiorly of the upper part of the casing 11 are two supply passages 34 and 35, which are formed by a dividing member, or partition 36 mounted between the front wall 12 and rear wall 13 approximately midway between the side walls 14 and 15 of the casing 11. The partition 36 is substantially wedge-shaped and is of sufficient height to extend some distance into the cap, or head 16 so that the water when supplied through the inlet of said cap will be divided into two streams and forced simultaneously through the passages 34 and. 35 upon the blades 30 and 31 of the wheels 26 and, 27 whereby said Wheels willbe revolved in opposite directions. In each of the opposed converging surfaces of the wedge-shaped partition 36 is provided a semicircular recess 37 and 38 extending lengthwise of said partition between the front wall 12 and rear wall 13 of the casing 11, and in each of said recesses is revolubly held a valve 39 and 40 adapted to control the flow of the motive agent through passages 34 and 35.

Each of the controlling valves 39 and 40 has an elongated semi-cylindrical body 41, and upon the ends of each semi-cylindrical body is a circular plate 42 and 43 which are revolubly held in recesses formed in the front wall 12 and rear wall 13 of the casing 11. Projecting axially from the outer surface of each of the circular plates 42 and 43 is a short shaft 44 and 45 which are journaled in bearings provided in the front wall 12 and rear wall 13 of the casing 11 so that when the controlling valves are rotated part, or half of a revolution the passages 34 and 35 will be closed partly, or entirely as the speed of the engine requires. Upon each of the shafts 45 of the controlling valves 39 and 40, and exteriorly of the front wall 12 of the casing, in one end of an arm 46 and 47, and to the opposite end of each of said arms is pivoted one end of a second arm 48 and 49. The opposite ends of both of the arms 43 and 49 are pivotally held to a pin 50 which is provided upon the rod 51 of a hydraulic regulator 52 adapted to be operated from the same source of water pressure supplied to the engine so as to move the cranks 46 and 47 whereby the valves 39 and 40 will be rotated to control the admission of the motive agent into the casing of the engine through the passages 34 and 35.

The regulator 52 has a vertically disposed cylinder 53 which may be connected in any suitable manner to the front wall 12 of the casing of the engine, and upon the end of the piston rod 51 within the vertical cylinder 53 of the regulator 52 is a piston 54 which is adapted to reciprocate within said vertical cylinder. Encircling the rod 51 and between the piston 54 and the top plate of the cylinder is a spiral spring 54 which normally serves to force said piston in a direction toward the bottom of the cylinder. Upon the exterior of the wall of the cylinder 53 is a second cylinder 55 which is also vertically disposed and is of a smaller circumference than said cylinder 53. The interior of the cylinder 55 communicates with the interior of the cylinder 53 by a duct, or passage 56 provided through the lower part of the wall between said cylinders. In order to admit a desired supply of water into the smaller cylinder 55 of the regulator 52 from where it is forced through the duct 56 into the cylinder 53, in the wall of the cylinder 55 is an intake 57 through which the water is admitted under pressure into the smaller cylinder 55 by means of a pipe 58, and the Water is exhausted from the regulator through an outlet 59 provided approximately midway of the bottom of said smaller cylinder. Within the smaller cylinder 55 is a valve 60 provided upon a rod 61 so as to be reciprocated in said cylinder 55 to control the water supply fed to this cylinder for passage through the duct 56 and into the cylinder 53 for reciprocating the piston 54 of said cylinder 53.

As a means to control the operation of the regulator 52 whereby the speed of the engine may be equalized during variations of loads thereupon, I employ in conjunction with said regulator a governor, as 62, which is operated by the rotation of the drive shaft 25 of the engine. One end of the drive shaft 25 extends for a suitable distance exteriorly of the front wall 12 of the casing of the engine, and upon the end of said shaft is a bevel gear 63. Meshing with the bevel gear 63 is a bevel gear 64. The bevel gear 64 is rigidly held to the lower end of a sleeve 66 which is rotatably supported by a bracket 66 provided upon the bearing 21 of the shaft 25, and through this bevel gear as well as said sleeve is a communicating passage in which is slidably held the rod 61 of the piston 60. The rod 61 is of sufficient length to extend some distance above the sleeve 66, and slidable upon said sleeve is the governor 62. The governor 62 may be of any well known construction, for instance a centrifugal type, as shown, and which has a sleeve 71 keyed to the upper part of the sleeve 66. To diametrically opposite parts of the sleeves 66 and the sleeve 71 are connected the ends of two links of spring metal, as 72 and 73, in which are interposed balls, as7at and 75, respectively, which will be swung in the radius of a circle for controlling the vertical adjustment of the rod 61 and the piston 60 in conformity with the variations of the load upon the drive shaft 25, as is incident to the operation of governors of this class. The sleeve element 66, has a lower extension, or neck, which is encircled by the bearing of the bracket 66, and an upper extension which telescopically engages within the sleeve 71, and is keyed thereto by a spline whereby the sleeve 66 and the sleeve 71 are caused to revolve together and impart rotation to the governor balls secured thereto. The piston rod 61 extends beyond the upper end of the sleeve extension of element 66, and is secured in the top of the sleeve 71 by swivel connection.

In operating my hydraulic rotary engine the water is supplied thereto under pressure from any suitable source, and is admitted through the inlet into the cap, or head 16 of said engine. The partition 36 will divide the stream of water into branches which will be forced past the valves 39 and 40 and through the passages 34: and 35 against the blades 30 and 31 of the wheels 26 and 27, respectively. The wheels 26 and 27 will thereby be simultaneously rotated in opposite directions, and the Water will be carried by said wheels so as to be exhausted from the casing 11 by passing through the passages 18 and outlet 19 of the base 17. The power from the wheels 26 and 27 will then be imparted to the drive shaft 25 which in turn will operate the governor 62 through the medium of the bevel gears 63 and 64;. From the same source of supply the water is also fed through the intake pipe 58 of the smaller cylinder 55 above the valve 60, and will pass through the duct 56 into the cylinder 52 below the piston 5-1. Under the pressure of the water the piston 5% will be raised in its cylinder, and through the medium of the rod 51 and cranks t6 and 17 the controlling valves 35) and 4L0 will be rotated so as to 010%, or limit the feed of water through the passages 34: and 35 of the casing. By suitably tensioning the spring 54, it will serve as a means for resisting the pressure of the water upon the piston 54:, in the cylinder 53, so that only the required force will be exerted to elevate the valve rod 51, and any superfluous force is counteracted by said spring. The action of the valves or pistons, 54: and 60, is illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. The piston (30 is shown at the extreme lowest position whereby the flow of water is admitted to the cylinder 53 and the piston 54L is thereby forced upwardly. In this figure the crank arms 16 and i7 designated inl ig. 1, as 76 and 77, are disposed in different po sitions, and the connecting links or arms 48 and -l9 are dispensed with, and a sleeve 81 is rigidly held upon the piston rod 51, said sleeve having arms 79 and 80, and each of said arms having slots 78, in which is pivotally held one end of the crank arms 76 and 7 7. The action of the valves 43 in controlled by this arrangement similarly to the manner in which the said valves are controlled by the arrangement and combination of parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, of the drawings.

In the foregoing description I have embodied the preferred form of my invention, but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, therefore I reserve to myself the right to make such changes fairly fall within the scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a hydraulic rotary engine, a casing having an inlet in its top and an outlet in its base; a shaft journaled in the casing, a drive shaft also journaled in the casing; two wheels, each held upon one of the shafts and each of said wheels having a plurality of radially disposed blades which are adapted to intersect when the wheels are rotated; a gear wheel held upon the first shaft; a gear wheel upon the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel upon the first shaft; a partition provided centrally of the upper part of the casing whereby a passage is provided between the partition and the opposed walls of the casing; two valves each rotatably held in the sides of the partition and each adapted to control one of said passages; a regulator provided exteriorly of the casing, means connecting the regulator to each of the valves whereby the rotation of the valves may be controlled by said regulator; a governor provided extoriorl y of the casing; means connecting the governor with the drive shaft of the engine so as to be operated when the drive shaft is revolved; and means connecting the governor and the regulator whereby the operation of said regulator may be controlled.

2. In a hydraulic rotary engine, a casing having an inlet in its top and an outlet in its base; a shaft journalcd in the casing; a drive shaft also journalcd in the casing; two wheels, each held upon one of the shafts and each of said wheels having a plurality of radially disposed blades which are adapted to intersect when the wheels are rotated; a gear wheel held upon the first shaft; a gear wheel held upon the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel upon the first shaft; a tapered partition provided in the casing whereby two passages are provided,

all

said partition having two semi-circular recesses, each provided in one of the sides thereof, two semi-circular valves, each rotatably held in one of the recesses of the partition and each adapted to control one of said passages; a regulator provided exteriorly of the'casing; means connecting the regulator to one end of each of the valves whereby the rotation of the valves may be controlled by said regulator; a governor provided eIrterio-rly of the casing; means connecting the governor with the drive shaft of the engine so as to be operated when the drive shaft is revolved; and means connecting the governor and the regulator whereby the operation of said regulator may be controlled 3. In a hydraulic rotary engine; a casing having an inlet in its top and an outlet in its base; a shaft journaled in the casing; a drive shaft also journaled in the casing; two wheels each held upon one of the shafts and each of said wheels having a plurality of radially disposed blades which are adapted to intersect when the wheels are rotated; a gear wheel held upon the first shaft; a ear wheel held upon. the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel upon the first shaft; a wedge-shaped partition provided in the upper part of the casing whereby two ing two semi-circular recesses, each provided in one of the sides thereof; two semi-circular valves, each rotatably held in one of the recesses of the partition and each adapted to control one of said recesses; a regulator provided exteriorly upon the front wall of the casing; two cranks, each connecting the regulator to one of the valves whereby the rotation of the valves may be controlled by said regulator; a governor provided also exteriorly of the casing; a bevel gear wheel connected to the governor; a bevel gear wheel provided upon the drive shaft of the engine and meshing with the bevel gear wheel of the governor; and means connecting the governor and the regulator whereby the operation of said regulator may be controlled.

l. in a hydraulic rotary engine; a casing having an inlet and an outlet; a shaft journaled in the casing; a drive shaft also journaled in the casing; two wheels, each held upon one of the shafts and each of said WdGGlS having a plurality of radially disposed blades which are adapted to intersect when the wheels are rotated; a gear wheel held upon the first shaft; a gear wheel held upon the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel upon the first shaft; a partition provided in the casing whereby two passages are provided; said partition having two semi-circular recesses, each provided in es are provided said partition hav one of the sides thereof; two semi-circular valves, each rotatably held in one of the recesses of the partition and each adapted to control one of said passages; a cylinder provided exteriorly of the casing; a piston adapted to be reciprocated in the cylinder; means connecting the piston of the cylinder to each of the valves whereby the rotation of the valves may be controlled by the movement of said piston; a governor provided exterior-1y of the casing; means connecting the governor with the drive shaftof the engine so as to be operated when the drive shaft is revolved; and means connecting the governor and the cylinder whereby the movement of the piston therein may be controlled.

ln a hydraulic rotary engine; a casing having an inlet in its top and an outlet in its base; a shaft journaled in the casing; a drive shaft also journaled in the casing; two wheels, each held upon one of the shafts and each of said wheels having a plurality of radially disposed blades which are adapted to intersect when the wheels are rotated; a

gear wheel held upon the first shaft; a gear wheel held upon the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel upon the first shaft; a partition provided between the front and rear walls in the upper part of the casing whereby two passages are provided; two valves, each adapted to control one of said passages and both of said valves having a short shaft journaled in the walls of the casing; a cylinder provided ezrceriorly upon the casing; a piston adapted to be reciprocated in the cylinder; two arms, each having one of its ends connected to one of the short shafts of the valves; two arms, each pivotally held upon the opposite end of each of the first arms, and each of said arms having its opposite end pivoted to the rod of the piston of the cylinder; a second cylinder provided upon the wall of the first cylinder and communicating with said second cyl nder by a duct; a valve provided in the second cylinder and having a rod; a governor provided exteriorly of the casing and connected to the rod of the second cylinder; and means connecting the governor with the drive shaft of the engine so as to be operated when said drive shaft is revolved.

6. In a hydraulic rotary engine; a casing having an inlet in its top and an outlet in its base; a shaft journaled in the casing; a drive shaft also journaled in the casing; two wheels, each held upon one of the shafts and each of said wheels having a plurality of radially disposed blades which are adapted to intersect when the wheels are rotated; a gear Wheel held upon the first shaft; a gear wheel held upon the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel upon the first shaft; a partition in the casing whereby two passages are provided in the casing; two valves; each rotatable in one of the passages and adapted to control said passages, both of said valves having two short shafts, each journaled in the walls of the casing; a cylinder provided exteriorly upon the casing; a piston adapted to be reciprocated in the second cylinder and having a piston rod extending upwardly toward the top of the casing; means connecting the piston rod and one of the short shafts of the valves whereby the rotation of the valves may be controlled by the movement of the piston in the cylinder; a second cylinder communicating with said first cylinder by a duct; said second cylinder being provided with an inlet port and an exhaust port; a valve adapted to be reciprocated in thesecond cylinder and having a rod; a governor provided upon the rod of said second cylinder; a bevel gear wheel provided upon the governor; and a second bevel gear wheel provided upon the drive shaft of the engine and meshing with the bevel gear wheel of said governor.

'Z. In a hydraulic rotary engine; a substantially rectangular base having a passage tl'ierethrough which forms an outlet in the bottom of said base; a casing supported upon the base; a cap provided upon the top of the casing and having an intake therein; a shaft journaled in the casing;a drive shaft also journaled in the casing; two wheels, each held upon one of the shafts, and each of said wheels having a plurality of radially disposed blades which are adapted to intersect when the wheels are rotated; a gear wheel held upon the first shaft; a gear wheel held upon the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel upon the first shaft; a partition provided centrally of the upper part of the casing whereby two passages are provided in the casing; two valves each rotatably held in the sides of the partition and each adapted to control one of said passages, both of said valves having a short shaft journaled in the walls of the casing; a cylinder provided exteriorly upon the casing; a piston adapted to be reciprocated in the cylinder and having a rod extending upwardly toward the top of the first cylinder; two cranks, each connected to the rod and connected to the short shaft of one of the valves; a second cylinder communicating with said first cylinder by a duct, said second cylinder being provided with an inlet port and an exhaust port; a valve adapted to be reciprocated in the second cylinder and having a rod; a governor provided upon the rod of said second cylinder; and means connecting the governor and the drive shaft of the engine whereby the governor will be operated when said drive shaft is revolved.

8 In a hydraulic rotary engine; a substantially rectangular base having a passage therethrough which forms an outlet in the bottom of said base; a casing supported upon said base; a cap provided upon the top of the casing and having an intake therein; a shaft journaled in the casing; a drive shaft also journaled in the casing; two wheels, each held upon one of the shafts and each of said wheels having a plurality of radially dis posed blades which are adapted to intersect when the wheels are rotated; a gear wheel held upon the first shaft; a gear wheel held upon the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel upon the first shaft; a partition provided centrally of the upper part of the casing whereby a passage is provided between the partition and each end wall of the casing; two valves, each rotatably held at the sides of the partition and each adapted to control one of said passages; a regulator provided extcriorly upon the front wall of the casing; means connecting the regulator to each of the valves whereby the rotation of the valves may be controlled by said regulator; a governor provided exteriorly of the casing; a bevel gear wheel provided upon the drive shaft of the engine; a second bevel gear wheel provided upon the governor and meshing with the bevel gear wheel of the governor; and means connecting the governor and the regulator whereby the operation of said regulator may be controlled.

9.-In a hydraulic rotary engine; a substantially rectangular base having a passage thcrethrough and which forms an outlet in the bottom of said base; a casing supported upon said base and having a front wall with tapering edges, a rear wall with tapering edges and two end walls; a cap provided upon the top of the casing and having an in take therein; a shaft journaled in the on larged part of the front and rear walls; a drive shaft also journaled in the enlarged part of the front and rear walls; two wheels, each held upon one of the shafts and each of said wheels, having a plurality of radially disposed blades which are adapted to intersect when the wheels are rotated; a gear wheel held upon the first shaft; a gear wheel held upon the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel upon the first shaft; a wedgeshaped partition provided between the front and rear walls in the upper part of the easingwhereby a passage is provided between the partition and each end wall of the easing, said partition being provided with a semi-circular recess in each side thereof: two semi-circular valves, each rotatably held in one of the passages of the partition and each adapted to control one of said passages; a regulator provided exteriorly upon the front wall of the casing; two cranks connected to the regulator and each connected to one of the valves whereby the rotation of the valves may be controlled by said regulator; a governor provided exteriorly of thefront wall of the casing; a bevel gear wheel pro vided upon the drive shaft of the engine; a second bevel gear wheel provided upon the governor and meshing with the bevel gear wheel of the governor; and means connecting the governor and the regulator whereby the operation of said regulator may be controlled.

10. In a hydraulic rotary engine; a substantially rectangular base having a passage therethrough and which forms an outlet in the bottom of said base; a casing supported upon said base and having a front wall with tapering edges, a rear wall with tapering edges and two end walls, a wedge-shaped cap provided upon the top of the caslng and having an intake therein; a shaft journaled in the enlarged part of the front and rear walls; a drive shaft also journaled in the enlarged part of the front and rear walls; two wheels, each held upon one of the shafts and each of said wheels having a plurality of radially disposed blades which are adapted to intersect when the wheels are rotated; a gear wheel held upon the first shaft; a gear wheel held upon the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel upon the first shaft; a wedgeshaped partition provided between the front and rear walls in the upper part of the easing whereby a passage is provided between the partition and each end wall of the easing, said partition being provided with a semi-circular valves, each rotatably held in one of the recesses of the partition and each adapted to control one of said passages; a 0

cylinder provided eXteriorly upon the front wall of the casing; a piston adapted to be reciprocated in the cylinder and having a piston rod extending upwardly toward the top of the first cylinder; means connected to the piston rod and to each of the semi-circular valves and adapted to move said valves when the piston is reciprocated a second cylinder provided upon the wall of the first cylinder and communicating with said second cylinder by a duct, said second cylinder being provided with an inlet port, and an exhaust port; a valve adapted to be reciprocated in the second cylinder and having a rod; a governor provided upon the rod of said second cylinder; a bevel gear wheel provided upon the drive shaft of the engine; and a second bevel gear wheel provided upon the governor and meshing with the first bevel gear wheel.

This specification signed and witnessed this twenty-fifth day of October, A. D. 1912.

l/VILLIAM F. ANDREWS.

Witnesses:

Roar. B. ABBOTT M. DERMODY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

